Bathtub attachment



M A Wan/JE ys l l i i Sept. 4, 1928.

E. A. WRIGHT BATHTUB ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. a, 1926 Fl E .l

FIE E Patented Sept. 44, 1928.

UNITED STATES EDWARD A.. WRIGHT, 02B' FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

IBATHTUB ATTACHMENT.

l appiioafionmea December s, 192s. seria-1 No. isasiv.

My invention relates-to devices for assise'` ingelderl and infirm people into and out` of bath tu s of the usual kind. Persons who varel well along in years' Aor who are handicapped physically often have difiicultyin entering and leaving the type of bath tub now in use. I have rovided my invention to render easy and sage the acts of getting into and out of a bath tub.

An object of my inventionv is to pro-vide a device for assisting persons to enter and leave bath tubs.

Another object of my invention is to pro- `vide such a device which is operative on the water pressure ordinarily available in a residence.

My invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following de# scription where I shall outline in full that form of the bath tub attachment of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming Sart of the present specication. In said rawings, I have shown one form of bath tub attachment embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do notlimit myself to such form since the invention as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a bath tub with my invention attached thereto, the plane of section being indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a crossl section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a bath tub with my inven tion installed therein. f

Fig. 3 is a modified form of tub shown in transverse section.

M invention preferably comprises a bath tub aving a seat therein power operated by manually regulated means and adapted to ascend and descend between the top and bottom of the tub.

In its preferred form, the bath tub of my invention preferably comprises a tub 6 made of enameled metal 1n the conventional manner and provided on .the exterior with an apron 7 extending fromthe rim ofthe tub to the floor 8. A seat 9 is provided which isv adapted to convey persons from a seated position adjacent the to o-f the tub to a seated position adjacent the ottoni of the tub. Preferably the seat in its lower position lies flush with the bottom ofthe tub and to accommodate the seat the tub is countersunk. The b ottom o f the tub slopes to-ward the depressio'n 11 which is the lowest point. The usual hot and cold water are supplied thrupipes 12 and 13 respectively which lead to a faucet 111 at one side of the tub. Drainage from the tub is taken care of by means of a drain pipe 16 which opens into the depression 11 and I leads toaJ valve seat 17 surrounding the waste pipe 18. A conical valve-19 is seated on the -valve seat and seals the'outlet of the Cpilpe y 16. The valve is conveniently unseate means of a rod 21 extending to the rim of the tub. and provided with a handle 22 convenientl; located for manual operation. when t e handle is lifted, the valve 19 is i raised from the seat 17 and the water may flow from the tub thru the drain pipe 16 and the waste pipe 18. An overfiow outlet 23 is provided adjacent the top of the tub and opens into a conduit 24 surrounding the rod 21 which communicates thru the conical valve 19 with the waste pipe 18. As thus far described, thebath tub is substantially of standard construction, although it is somewhat modified in 4shape to accommodate the attachment of my invention.

In order to assist a person into and out of the tub, I have provided a seat which can be raised and lowered between the to and bottom of the tub. The seat 9 is pre erably an enameled .metal casting similar to the tub 6 and is of such size and shape as to rest within the depression 11 and lie flush withv the bottom of the tub. The seat is preferably provided with a peripheral downturned flange which is connected with a central hub 26 by means of intermediate webs. The hub 26 is internally threaded and secured by means of a set screw 27 to the u pper threaded end of a piston rod 28. The seat may be given any axial adjusted position with respect to the piston rod by simply rotating it on the threaded portion and subsequently 100 locking it with the set screw. The piston rod connects with a piston 29 slidably mounted within a cylinder' 31 secured to an annular boss 32 cast in the bottom of the tub. A packing gland 33 is seated in the lower portion of the depression l11 and effectively prevents leakage of iuid in either direction along the piston rod. A bleeder pipe 34 connects the upper portion of the cylinder 31 with the waste pipe 18 to remove any collected liquid.

Beneath the piston 29, a conduit 36 is providedto permit the entrance and exit of preswith a pipe 39 connected to t 37, the supply an discharge of sure fluid to the cylinder 31. The conduit 36 is connected thru a three way valve 37 with a sup ly of water under pressure entering thru t e pipe 38 from the plipe 13 and also e waste pipe 18. the three way cock ressure fluid from beneath'the piston 29 is e ectivelyrcontrolled and the position of the piston and the seat is easily regulated. The control of the three-way valve is facilitated by an elongation of the operating stem which comprises a rod 41 extending to the rim of the tub and provided with a convenient hand wheel 42.

In the operation of my device, itis intended that the conical valve 19 first be closed by the handle 22, and that the faucet V14 be operated to fill the tub with water to the requisite level. tated to permit the flow of pressure iluid thru the three-way cock 37 into the c linder. The piston 29 then lifts the seat 39 rom its position ilush with the bottom of the tub into its extended position adjacent the top of the tub. The person using the apparatus enters the tub and seats himself upon the seat. He then By suitably mani ulating rotates the handle 42 1n the o posite direction to permit the discharge o the pressure fluid from the cylinder into the waste pi e 18. His wei ht causes the plunger of t e hydraulic cylinder 31 to lower until the seat 39 is in lowermost position. The reverse procedure is followed when the bather leaves the tub.

I have developed'the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 for installation in laces having but a scant amount of room. n this modified form, the tub 46 is Vof substantially the same contour as the tub 6 and is likewise provided with the usual hot and cold water supply, not shown, and a. drain 47 similar to the described drain. In place of the single cylinder shown in Fig. 1, the tub of Fig. 3 is provided with a pair of cylinders 48 and 49 which are nested between the apron 51 and the interior walls 52. Each' of the cylinders is provided with a piston 53 connected to a piston rod 54 passin thru a stuilin at'the upper end of t e cylinder. handle 56 secured to the top of each piston rod furnishes a convenient gripping point for the user of the device .and supports one of two rods 57 which extend from the upper part of the tub to the seat 58 countersunk in the tub bottom. A suitable three-way valve 59 is connected thru a pipe 61 to the source of fluid under pressure and also to the drain 47 by means of a pipe 62. An extended operating handle, not shown, similar to the handle 42, is preferably provided in the rim of the tbu for controlling the valve 59.

' The two cylinders 48 and 49 are intercommunicating thru'a pipe63, and their respective pistons ascend simultaneously when the valve 59 is operated, to admit pressure fluid.

f The handle 42 is then robox 55l 'As the pistons ascend theoiifi the seat 58 fromthe depression in the ttom of the tub to its position adjacent'the top of the tub. The person using the device then seats himself on the seat in itsraised position and holding onto the handles 56 fon sup ort manipulates, the three-way valve 59 in t e o posite direction to permit the discharge o the ressure fluid from the c linders 48 and 49.

he weight of the seate person forces the pistons 53 downwardl and the pressure iuid discharges thru the pipes 63, 62 and 47 until the seat 58 is again in the countersunk portion of the tub.

It will be a preciated that with either modification o my invention, a person is greatly assisted in entering and leaving the bath tub.

I claim:

1. In a bath tub a seat adapted to rest on the bottom thereo a cylinder adjacent said bath tub, a piston in said cylinder directly connected to said seat for raisin said seat from the bottom of said tub, an manually operated means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from said cylinder.

2. In a bath tub, a seat countersunk in the bottom of said tub, a fluid pressure cylinder vertically dis osed adjacent ysaid seat, a piston in said cy inder, means directly connecting said piston to said seat, a source of fluid under pressure, and means overnin the flow of pressure fluid to and om sai cylinder. i

3. In a bath tub having a countersunk portion, a drain .in said countersunk rtion, a seat disposed in one position in sai countercylinder having a pistonconnected to said seat. In a bath tob having a bottom sloping toa common low point, a drain at said-low point, a seat adjacent said low int, a hyraulic cylinder for lifting sai seatrfrom saidv low point, a source of liquid under pressure, means for conductin/g said liquid into said tub, and means connected to said conducting means for supplying -fluid to said cylinder.

5. In a bath tub adapted to drain toward a depression inthe bottom thereof, means for supplying pressure fluid to said tub, a'ldrain in saidv epression for draining said iluid from said tub, a seat located in said depression, a hydraulic device for raising lsaid seat from said depression, means connecting said hydraulic device to said supply of ressure fluid' and means adjacent said seat or controlling the flow of pressure fluid to and'from said hydraulic device.

6. In a bath tub, a seat, a hydraulic cylinder for raising said seat, a source of water sunk portion and in another position adja- ,under pressure, means for admitting water :from said source to said tub, and means for causing water from said source to actuate said c linder.

7 n a bath tub, a seat, a iston unitarily connected to said seat, a cyllnder in which said piston operates, and means for conducting a pressure fluid to said cylinder for actuating said piston.

8. In a bath tub, a hydraulic c linder mounted below the upper rim of sai tub, a piston in said cylinder, a seat connected to said piston and adapted to be raised and lowered between the bottom of said tub and the up er rim thereof, and means for supplying prdssure hydraulically to said cylinder to actuate said piston.

9. In a bath tub, a hydraulic c linder mounted below the upper rim of sai tub, a. piston in said cylinder, a seat unitarily connected to said plston, and manually operable means for controlling the influx to and eilux from said cylinder of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD A. IGHT. 

